The Memory Thief
The market smelled of boiled roots, rusting metal, and desperation. In the heart of the memory district, vendors hawked bottled recollections: First Kiss, Child’s Laughter, Victory on Graduation Day—each sealed in delicate glass vials that shimmered with ghostly light. Buyers wandered with glazed eyes, ready to trade away pain for a moment of warmth, or relive joy for a price.